Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-13
A EUROPEAN CRISIS EMINENT.

From the tone of our cables, outlinin)
the spirit of the German press in the mat
ter Of alleged French expressions, the in
powers is but a question OF time. and i,
may be assured a very short time. It il
clear that SO long as Germany holds thu
provinces OF Alsace and Lorraine under hel
domination the spirited and patriot.
Frenchman will feel that they have a griev
ance to satisfy, a malignant race hatred
to crafty. All that France lacks for ar
aggressive movement against Germany "a
leadership. The demonstrations in favo,
Of Boulanger clearly indicate the strength
of the war spirit of the masses of the
French people. To what extremity this
spirit would lead should there appear on
the scene a leader with the genius and the
little Corsican soldier need hardly be
surmised. But one conclusion could
come from such q circumstance.
and that conclusion would be war, and
that to the death. It is questionable il
Boulanger is the man for the times. He
has, it is true, proven himself to be a great
organizer. but he is untried in the field of
active hostilities. It is a problem whether
he would be equal to such an emergency as
that. Yet this same problem had to be
solved in the Ease of Napoleon the
first and the great. In
the case OF Napoleon the
Third and the little a satisfactory solu-
ks1- ,-oo MT fo,,rI t. uoc hrk onnfhor
illustration in his case that genius is not
transmissible from one generation to an
other. In the present state of uncertainty
and doubt there is but one thing that is
sure, and that is that the present strained
condition of affairs cannot exist without a
crisis. The elimination of present condi.
lions must result in a better understanding
between these two great powers or open
hostilities which can but eventually lead
to exploding all the war magazines in Eu-
rope.
As showing the present unstable state OF
affairs we need but cite, in addition to the
above, the fact that there is a serious
menace of the peace of Europe
in the election by the Soubrie
OF Bulgaria, of Prince Ferdinand to the
throne. Russia regards it as an Austrian
intrigue which threatens Russian supremacy
in that quarter. If there is any one thing
that Russia cannot brook it is the aggression
OF any other power in Bulgaria. 1t is safe
to say that the Russian press fairly out
lines the popular spirit OF the people and
the sentiments OF the general government
when it almost university protests
against the accession of Ferdinand to the
throne OF Bulgaria. The Russian Press is
under the close surveillance of the agents
OF the Government, in fact it is edited as a
rule by the agents OF the Gar, very much
the same way as is the press Of Germany
by Bismark who is to-day the dominant
power in the c~ounsels OF the German EN-
pire.
-
One thing can but be clear to the most
obtuse mind, and that is that the spirit OF
war is brooding over the councils OF En-
rope. Each OF the great powers is watch
ing warily all OF the Others, and ready to
take the slightest advantage for aggression
and territorial aggrandizement that may |
present itself. The signs of the times all
point to a crisis fraught with tremendous
issues. 1t need not surprise any student
OF history and OF current events to see
vi lin a short time a contest inaugurated
which may result in the changing OF the
whole map Of Europe.
y:
In the meantime our ever peaceful repub-
lie may look calmly on and contemplate
the coming contest with equanimity. We
can furnish them with all the supplies and
the sinews OF war they may want SO long
rs their cash holds out and pray for the
of the fttest. We are the pro-
ducers of the world: may the great powers
prove to be the consumers. Ours be the |
gain, theirs be the loss.